On saying good-bye (didn't we just do this?)

Im sitting here, thinking about what I should write. 

I could talk about saying goodbye to my family. I could talk about the tears and "See you laters!" while quickly walking away to hide my tears. 

I could talk about how I told Cody that "Auntie and uncle are going away for a while." and he gets a serious look on his face and says "Cody go too?" and I get choked up. I could talk about how strapping him into his car seat was just as hard as it was the last time we left. How I fought back tears and couldn't quite pull myself together. 

I could talk about the long hugs, and rushed goodbyes, forced forward by me, one who hates goodbyes.

But instead, I will focus on the good. 

The fact that we have precious family and friends, ones who we will miss and think of often. We will thank God that we are blessed beyond belief by people who give and give and give some more. We are so grateful (how many times have I said that. But its true.) and although this part is hard, we are still thanking God for all that He has done and given to us.

God is good and life is (bitter)sweet.

On counting down...

10 days. 

Just typing that brings up a lot of emotions. 

My mind flies back to last night at family dinner. The house is alive with laughter, the wonderful smells of moms cooking and all things that say "We are a family."

I think to my newest nephew, holding him in my lap and him deciding "Auntie, your lips look good enough to taste" and so he does. My heart expands when I think of him, his wide blue eyes and amazing smile. 

I think to the smells and sights of home. Mom bustling around, dad puttering in the garage. Family stopping by to chat, grab a bite to eat, drop something off. I think about driving around, knowing where Im going (well..mostly), being able to read the street signs. Having my bestie within a few minutes drive, being able to linger over a cup of coffee and look into people eyes. 

I have loved having deep, meaningful, faith-challenging conversations. I love seeing people in their new roles as parents, at work or in their spiritual life. I have been blessed with incredible friendships and connections. I am grateful, so very grateful, for each moment I have had with these amazing people.

And now, as our time in Canada comes to an end, we are so eager for the next chapter to begin. Living away from our loved ones is hard, but Gods grace has always been enough to help us through that. 
We are so excited to see what is next, to live in one place for more than 3 months (Will my TCK heart love it?!) and be immersed in a different culture and language. 

There will be challenges, most certainly. 

But the rewards of living a life fully abandoned to the One who created the moon and stars, they are everlasting. 

And so, next week, we are off. First to Oregon for a week, then Davao City for 2 weeks, then Manila and, after a delightful overnight bus, we will reach our desitination in Tabuk, Kalinga!

(Just don't ask us how packing is going!)

New website!

Just a quick note to my thousands (ahem...more like 20) of readers. 

We have a new website! We would love for you to check it out, it has tons of info about our big move to the Philippines, they why and where and whens! 

www.andrewandedolbina.weebly.com

Enjoy! 

Jumping Around the World!

I keep telling myself that "I will blog today". But then the day passes and fills up with paperwork, planning, visiting, and living, and another day goes by with blogging silence. 

Im fine with that, since Im having a tough time putting into words how the past month has felt. 

So today, I thought I would do a fun post! 

I shall call it "Jumping around the world!". Which you already know, since you probably clicked on the post title to get here in the first place. Moving on. 

You might have noticed that I took a LOT of jumping pictures while travelling. Im not sure how that started, but it just seemed to happen. Thankfully I have a husband who is patient and great at taking jumping pictures. Sometime I was even able to pursued him to jump for a picture too! 

So here you go, some pictures and excerpt of jumps around the world! 

That time I jumped and this kid snuck in to join me, and I didn't see him and I punched him in the face accidentally. Oops. Luckily he laughed it off!

Ankor Wat, Cambodia. 

Rosh-Hanikra, Israel 

At the Lebanon Border. It isn't perfect but we couldn't chance a second attempt! We took this and ran! They "frown" at border crossing pictures.

Old City, Jerusalem.

Phang Nga, Thailand. 

Masada, Israel. It was SO hot, I couldnt muster up enough energy to jump a second time! 

Petra, Jordan. 

Malaysia. 

Petra, Jordan.

India Gate, New Delhi.

Taj Mahal, India! 

The Red Fort, India! 

Ayutthaya, Thailand. 

Chelsea, NYC.

Brooklyn Bridge, NYC.

Central Park, NYC.

Greece. 

Tel Aviv, Israel. 

Haifa, Israel. 

Mt Carmel, Israel. With some of the kids from the refugee centre! 

Akko, Israel

Phew, my knees hurt just looking at them all! I love them though, I think they are a fun way to capture special places!

Happy Anniversary!

3 years have passed already. 

How has it already been 3 years?! 

How has it only been 3 years! 

Andrew you have taught me so much about myself. 

You have shown me how to be better, to serve God more wholeheartedly, how to be more selfless and generous. 

We have grown and struggled with "you" and "me" and boundaries and walls, sin and joy. 

It has not been easy, but I feel as if we are in a new place now. As if we are more content to be one. 

I sink into you, you sink into me. 

We don't (always) fight it, we just are.

You surely didn't know what you were getting into, marrying me. But you are steadfast and loving, always praying for me and us. Your patience and strength give me strength. Your faith is beautiful and I love watching you step out more and more into Gods calling on your life. 

The past year was one of great adventures, many sights and much movement. I pray that the next one will find us sinking our roots more and more into each other. That we would learn, even more, that security doesn't come from a place or job or country or government. That Christ alone would be our security and that we would follow Him faithfully.

Happy Anniversary Andrew. 

You are my best friend, the best part of me and my favourite part of every day.  

Recently.

Sorry for the silence lately! 

We have been back in Canada for 2 weeks already. 

And a busy, amazing, sweet, chaotic 2 weeks it has been! 

My amazing niece sweetly decided to wait for me to get back to canada, before being born! She was born just 32 hours after we got off the plane! I was so honoured to attend the birth, which was intense and quick!

Rebecca Lynn was born in the caul at 6:20am weighing exactly 7lbs. Mom and baby are both doing beautifully! 

Squishy baby!

He is such a proud uncle! 

I got to re-meet my nephew and quasi-niece, who are both hilarious and gorgeous! 

Mr Cody enjoyed showing B her nose! So precious! 

AND I got to meet me amazing nephew, Declan. I love him. He is so squishy and cuddly!

And this little man? Well, I have been soaking him in. He is so smart, funny and cute! And this head tilt? Kills me! 

It has been an emotional couple of weeks. Jet-lag and culture shock has been making me pretty exhausted and a bit foggy, but we are so thrilled to be here during this time! 

And coming up this weekend? My baby brother is getting married! That certainly deserves its own blog post, so I will save the mushiness for that! 

Back in the great white north!

We are baaaaaaccccckkkkk!! 

Thats right, we are on canadian soil! 

It was 28 hours of travelling (plus some wait time) and over 52 hours with no sleep. 

Ill say that again.

52 hours with no sleep. 

Well, granted, I did pass out for a few minutes in a Chinese airport. I woke up in a panic when someone walked by and I thought they were stealing my passport. 

Arriving in Canada was so so sweet. I had been (almost) able to contain my excitement up until we got off the plane. Then, walking through that last stretch, to where my parents were waiting, I thought I was having a heart attack. Literally, I grabbed my chest, turned to Andrew and said "I think Im having a heart attack!" He told me Im fine and we kept going. 

We only told our parents when we were arriving, so it was quite the thrill to surprise people! I love their reactions and hugs! 

So here we are, me, bundled up, attempting to acclimatize my body. Andrew, overjoyed at the amount of food around him. 

We are so thankful to be back in this beautiful country, with our family and friends. Those fears that I was talking about? 

Well, they were just that. 

Fears. 

I know the culture shock will hit, I might weep in the pickle aisle (like a friend of mine did) but for now, life is extra sweet. God is so so good.